NATCHITOCHES – Southeastern Louisiana senior midfielder Candice Wallace hit a penalty kick and completed a 4-3 shootout victory over Stephen F. Austin in Southland Conference Tournament semifinal action Friday afternoon at the Lady Demon Soccer Complex.

The tournament match between the Lady Lions (12-4-2) and Ladyjacks (10-8-2) ended in a shootout for the second straight year. Statistically, it also marked the second time Southeastern edged SFA in a shootout to advance in the league tournament.

Southeastern goalkeeper Lacey Bockhaus set the tone to start the shootout, turning away the shot of SFA's Kelli Wilson. Freshman Karly Dagys, junior Natalie Santana and sophomore Kyle MacIntosh all netted shots to give Southeastern a 3-1 lead with two shots remaining. SFA knotted the shootout at 3 with scores by Jordan King and Edwina Forbes.

After that, the Lady Lions' fate was in the hands of Wallace, a three-time All-Southland Conference performer and the team's most experience senior. Wallace drilled her shot past diving SFA goalkeeper Courtney Bauder to send Southeastern to the finals.

“Today was a great game between two excellent teams,” Southeastern Louisiana head coach Blake Hornbuckle said. “We both came in knowing we would have to put it all on the line and unfortunately there had to be a loser, and we're very fortunate to have come away with the win today. Defensively we played very solid and just really happy with the result, and we congratulate SFA on a wonderful season.”

The Lady Lions will be making its eighth trip to the Southland Conference Tournament finals and will meet top-seeded Texas State. Sunday's championship match is set for 1 p.m. and will be televised live on the Southland Television Network (Charter Channel 22 in the Hammond area, plus other affiliates across Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas) and Fox College Sports Pacific (digital cable sports tiers and DirecTV channel 617 nationwide). The game will also be streamed live online at www.southland.org. Southeastern will be making its first Southland Conference Tournament championship match appearance since 2003.

The teams battled through a scoreless first half that saw both teams each have one prime scoring opportunity in an evenly-played first 45 minutes. SFA's Brenna Crockett had the first chance late in the second half, getting free on a breakaway, but Bockhaus made a sliding save.

In the final minute of the period, Santana had a good look from close range, but her shot banged off the left post.

The second half was more of the same with the Lady Lions attempting six shots to four for the Ladyjacks. Neither team had a prime scoring chance as the match went to extra periods.

Midway through the first overtime, Santana rocketed a shot from about 18 yards out that SFA goalkeeper Courtney Bauder bobbled but quickly smothered. Kim Kimmel's shot in the final minute was blocked for SFA sending the game into a second extra period.

SFA made another solid run midway through the second overtime, as Bockhaus made a nice save on a shot by Laura Sadler. However, the match was scoreless through the second overtime setting up a shootout for the second straight year.

SFA – 0 0 0 0 – 0 (10-8-2)
SLU – 0 0 0 0 – 0 (12-4-2)
Southeastern advances with a 4-3 shootout victory

Scoring Summary
Shootout:
1) SFA – Kelli Wilson – No good
2) SLU – Karly Dagys – Good
3) SFA – Wallis Young – Good
4) SLU – Natalie Santana – Good
5) SFA – Camille Royer – No good
6) SLU – Kyle MacIntosh – Good
7) SFA – Jordan King – Good
8) SLU – Nicole Brannigan – No good
9) SFA – Edwina Forbes – Good
10) SLU – Candice Wallace - Good

Shots – Southeastern Louisiana 19, Stephen F. Austin 18
Saves – Southeastern Louisiana 7, Stephen F. Austin 6
Corner Kicks – Southeastern Louisiana 9, Stephen F. Austin 5
Fouls – Southeastern Louisiana 25, Stephen F. Austin 21
Offsides – Southeastern Louisiana 3, Stephen F. Austin 2

Southland Conference Tournament
November 5-8, 2009
Natchitoches, La.

First Round – Thursday, November 5
Match 1 – No. 3 Stephen F. Austin 5, No. 6 McNeese State 1
Match 2 – No. 4 Sam Houston State 3, No. 5 UTSA (2 OT)

Semifinals – Friday, November 6
Match 3 – No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana 0, Stephen F. Austin 0 (Southeastern wins shootout, 4-3)
Match 4 – No. 1 Texas State vs. Sam Houston State, TBA

Finals – Sunday, November 8
Match 5 – Southeastern Louisiana vs. Texas State-Sam Houston State winner, 1 p.m. (Southland TV Network)